A quickfire double before half-time gave Boro the advantage against the Canaries, whose continued search for a home win was sealed by Jacob Wright’s second half red card despite a late Josh Sargent consolation.

Although much of Liam Manning’s football is designed to avoid the risk of Johannes Hoff Thorup’s playing out from the back, goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic found himself in a typical predicament within three minutes. He gave the ball away to Tommy Conway on his own byline, but thankfully for the Serbian Morgan Whittaker couldn’t make the most. 

Jose Cordoba then denied Aidan Morris when he volleyed from inside the box, as the in-form visitors established dominance early on. But there were soon chances for City to attack, Jack Stacey’s shot blocked before Ante Crnac was denied.

Summer signing Papa Amadou Diallo was a continual thorn in Middlesbrough’s side, and after he set Sargent up for the second of two missed headers, it was his turn to have a shot. It came from Stacey’s whipped low cross but was lifted well over from a tight angle.

Norwich had slowly become the better team, but mistakes gave Rob Edwards’ men a route to a comfortable half-time lead. First Finn Azaz rifled in at the near post with little obstruction by Kovacevic, before Tommy Conway strolled into plenty of space to tap Aidan Morris’ low centre beyond him.

Those errors left Manning with plenty of work to do at the break, although the signs early in the second half were positive. Diallo’s low shot was palmed clear and City’s pressing was forceful, while Harry Darling’s block on Conway kept them in it.

But by the 57th minute their hopes of even a point were almost out of the window. Wright’s lunge on Morris meant an early bath for the midfielder, with the hosts forced to battle on with 10 men.

Late changes were designed to change the dynamic, and in the 85th minute they did. When Boro failed to make the most of their chance to finish things off, McLean took a chance on a through-ball to Sargent. It came off, the American making the most with a deft lob over Sol Byrnn.

The elusive second goal didn’t come though, and Middlesbrough were able to hold on despite a late handball shout.

Norwich get the chance to bounce back in the Carabao Cup when they face Southampton in NR1 on Tuesday, although their three points from three Championship games will remain a concern for Manning until the trip to Blackburn next Saturday.

Substitutes:

32. Grimshaw (GK)

8. Gibbs

10. Jurasek

14. Chrisene

23. McLean (on for Marcondes, 67)

27. Schlupp (on for Cordoba, 80)

29. Schwartau (on for Crnac, 67)

30. Kvistgaarden (on for Diallo, 80)

35. Fisher (on for Stacey, 52)

Head Coach: Liam Manning

Sent off: Wright (57)

Goals: Sargent (85)

Substitutes:

23. Glover (GK)

4. Barlaser

10. Burgzorg (on for Conway, 67)

19. Nypan (on for Azaz, 72)

25. Edmundson

27. Hansen (on for Whittaker, 67)

28. McCabe

30. Borges (on for Silvera, 90)

42. Kante

Head Coach: Rob Edwards

Bookings: Hackney (48), Brittain (61), Nypan (90+7)

Goals: Azaz (42), Conway (45)

KEY MOMENTS

4 – Kovacevic gives the ball away to Conway in his own box but the visitors can’t make the most.

15 – Crnac does well to set up Stacey in the box, but his touch is poor and the resulting shot is blocked.

21 – Wright curls a good cross onto Sargent’s head, but the American heads well wide from 12 yards. 

28 – Diallo puts another good ball on Sargent’s head with his left foot, but under pressure it’s headed wide again.

33 – Diallo exchanges passes with Wright and curls just wide from distance.

35 – Crnac plays a nice reverse pass into Stacey, whose whipped ball in is lifted well over by Diallo from a tight angle.

41 – Poor play from Kovacevic and Topic hands Morris the chance to chip the former, but he also lifts over the bar.

42 – GOAL BORO (Azaz): Hackney drives forward and plays the ball out wide to Azaz, who shoots through Kovacevic to open the scoring.

45 – GOAL BORO (Conway): Morris has time on the byline to cut back for Conway, who taps in to make it 2-0.

Half-time: Norwich City 0-2 Middlesbrough

54 – Marcondes finds Diallo with a lovely pass in behind, but his shot is palmed away.

56 – Conway races clear but sees his low shot blocked by Darling.

57 – RED CARD NORWICH (Wright): Wright dives in on Morris after losing the ball and is sent off.

64 – Sargent turns well and finds Topic, who pokes just wide from 15 yards.

68 – Hansen sees his shot tipped over by Kovacevic.

85 – GOAL NORWICH (Sargent): McLean chips a ball forward for Sargent, who lofts it over Brynn on the half-volley.

90+4 – Kovacevic gives the ball away in midfield again, but Hackney’s shot spins wide.

Full-time: Norwich City 1-2 Middlesbrough

PLAYER RATINGS

Kovacevic 3, Medic 5, Darling 7, Cordoba 5, Stacey 6, Wright 4, Topic 5, Diallo 7, Crnac 5, Marcondes 6, Sargent 7. Subs: Fisher 6, Schwartau 6, McLean 7, Schlupp 5, Kvistgaarden 6.

MATCH STATISTICS

Possession: 60pc-40pc

Shots: 13-11

On target: 2-4

Corners: 4-3

Fouls: 9-12

Added time: 8 mins

Attendance: 26,381 (1,600 Middlesbrough)

Referee: Leigh Doughty